Island Life
Studio Custodian Exhibition
Artist and Crofter, Derek Scanlan is delighted to be exhibiting a new series of landscape paintings at Atelier 4D x Studio Custodian in Maastricht.
The paintings depict Derek’s herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle (a traditional Scottish breed), grazing on the in-bye fields and common grazings of Mangersta, a crofting township in Uig, Isle of Lewis, Scotland.
"As a crofter (peasant farmer) I am increasingly concerned about the industrialisation of farming. With removal of grazing animals from the landscape in the name of the environment, but primarily driven by big business, there appears to be little recognition of the environmental benefits of grazing animals on open pasture.
The tradition of keeping cattle and sheep on the hillsides of Scotland goes back thousands of years and has formed the soils, the flora and fauna and the communities of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
I am passionate about maintaining the ability to produce food locally and sustainably in a way that benefits nature, the animals and the communities that live there. My series of paintings attempts to reflect on the future challenges of crofting and small scale farming."
Please see Studio Custodian for further information and news on their European art and design exhibitions. The current pop-up exhibition can be viewed at:
Atelier 4D x Studio Custodian
Rechtstraat 65a | Maastricht , The Netherlands
Open every Saturday 11-17 December 2024
Also Sunday 15th December and Sunday 22 December 2024
and by appointment.
A folio of Derek Scanlan’s Scottish landscape paintings in pastels and oils can be viewed here.
The tradition of keeping cattle and sheep on the hillsides of Scotland goes back thousands of years and has formed the soils, the flora and fauna and the communities of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland.
I am passionate about maintaining the ability to produce food locally and sustainably in a way that benefits nature, the animals and the communities that live there. My series of paintings attempts to reflect on the future challenges of crofting and small scale farming."
Please see Studio Custodian for further information and news on their European art and design exhibitions. The current pop-up exhibition can be viewed at:
Atelier 4D x Studio Custodian
Rechtstraat 65a | Maastricht , The Netherlands
Open every Saturday 11-17 December 2024
Also Sunday 15th December and Sunday 22 December 2024
and by appointment.
A folio of Derek Scanlan’s Scottish landscape paintings in pastels and oils can be viewed here.
Book Mangersta Croft Holidays Direct for Best Price 
Did you know it is always cheaper and better value when you book a pod using our own online booking system? It supports a local island family business and saves on commission to global online travel agencies. If you book direct for 3 nights we offer a 10% discount on the total booking price. And to encourage longer stays in beautiful Uig in 2025 we are offering a fantastic 20% discount on stays of 4 (or more) nights!
With incredible island scenery on the doorstep it’s worth staying longer to explore Mangersta and the wider Uig area. Here are just 4 of many beautiful walks to enjoy in Uig, Isle of Lewis.
Reef Beach
The machair flowers are sublime and the shell sand sparkles in the sun. A beautiful spot for a dip in the sea and a long walk along the curving shoreline.
Suaineabhal
A fairly easy hill walk rewarded with beautiful aerial views of Uig Sands.
Mangersta Beach
Wild Lewis at her best. Loved by seascape photographers for the crashing waves.
Carnish Beach
This sheltered cove with turquoise waters is a lovely place to relax and chill.
Reef Beach
The machair flowers are sublime and the shell sand sparkles in the sun. A beautiful spot for a dip in the sea and a long walk along the curving shoreline.
Suaineabhal
A fairly easy hill walk rewarded with beautiful aerial views of Uig Sands.
Mangersta Beach
Wild Lewis at her best. Loved by seascape photographers for the crashing waves.
Carnish Beach
This sheltered cove with turquoise waters is a lovely place to relax and chill.
Sea Eagles
Sea Eagles filmed on Mangersta Common Grazings. The video gives an idea of their incredible size, particularly when compared to the size of a sheep. Take binoculars when out on a coastal walk to get the best views.
8 of the most amazing glamping locations in the UK
Totally chuffed to have Mangersta Croft Wigwams listed in this article by Active Traveller Magazine Particularly as it includes some fantastic glamorous camping sites from the ‘Sky Den’ in Northumberland, which we loved watching being designed and constructed on "George Clark’s Amazing Spaces" to a fab converted helicopter in Sussex. We’re in good company there!
How to tell Golden Eagles from Sea Eagles when bird watching in the Hebrides
Golden Eagles and Sea Eagles (also known as White-tailed Eagles) fly past on a fairly frequent basis here in Mangersta. Often joke that they are more like our garden birds, as I can’t say I’ve ever had the pleasure of spotting the Blue Tits and Chaffinchs, which I enjoyed seeing while growing up in urban Scotland. If you aren’t used to seeing them it can be tricky identifying the species of Eagle from the silhouette in the sky above….so after studying some bird books I came up with the image below to put in the Wigwams and Shepherd’s Hut as a little bird spotting tip for visitors. Also researched their Gaelic names, which are rather beautiful - Iolair Mara and Iolair Bhuidhe.
